Default
Door staff@engadget.com (Alec Hively) - 22 Sep 2026
Siri is built into CarPlay; by saying "Hey Siri" or pressing the voice button on your car's steering wheel, you can send messages, start navigation, change the playlist and take other actions. On a compatible iPhone, the revamped Siri AI in iOS 27 is also more useful in the car. And if the assistant is becoming a backseat driver, you can stop Siri from interrupting you while using CarPlay by tinkering with various settings.
If you like, you can go further by enabling Voice Commands, an accessibility feature that provides more CarPlay controls with your voice. To turn this on, go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control in CarPlay. Once enabled, it will continually listen for commands like opening apps, swiping left/right or touching a certain element on the screen. For a full list of commands, see Apple's Voice Control CarPlay support page.
The Focus feature is a productivity must-have on your iPhone, and the Driving Focus helps reduce distractions from notifications while not affecting essential driving apps. To enable Driving Focus, go to the Settings on your vehicle's CarPlay display, select Driving Focus and choose Activate with CarPlay. For best results, customize your Driving Focus notification settings on your phone by going to Settings > Focus > Driving. Under People, select contacts whose messages you'd like to allow through or silence. You can also allow repeated calls from people who are otherwise suppressed, as well as create auto-replies. Visit the While Driving tab to turn on this Focus automatically whenever you connect to CarPlay, if you didn't already do so on your iPhone.
Beyond these settings and app changes, elite CarPlay users use both wireless and wired connections depending on the situation. Although a wireless connection is convenient, it doesn't charge your phone while using it unless your car has a wireless charging pad. As such, on extended road trips, plugging in your phone is the right choice to keep the battery topped up.
Other little tricks make CarPlay even smoother. In the Messages app on your iPhone, tap and hold a frequent conversation and choose Pin to keep it at the top — doing this will also pin it in the Messages app for CarPlay. And don't forget about the Shortcuts app, where you can build CarPlay automations.
If you like, you can go further by enabling Voice Commands, an accessibility feature that provides more CarPlay controls with your voice. To turn this on, go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control in CarPlay. Once enabled, it will continually listen for commands like opening apps, swiping left/right or touching a certain element on the screen. For a full list of commands, see Apple's Voice Control CarPlay support page.
The Focus feature is a productivity must-have on your iPhone, and the Driving Focus helps reduce distractions from notifications while not affecting essential driving apps. To enable Driving Focus, go to the Settings on your vehicle's CarPlay display, select Driving Focus and choose Activate with CarPlay. For best results, customize your Driving Focus notification settings on your phone by going to Settings > Focus > Driving. Under People, select contacts whose messages you'd like to allow through or silence. You can also allow repeated calls from people who are otherwise suppressed, as well as create auto-replies. Visit the While Driving tab to turn on this Focus automatically whenever you connect to CarPlay, if you didn't already do so on your iPhone.
Beyond these settings and app changes, elite CarPlay users use both wireless and wired connections depending on the situation. Although a wireless connection is convenient, it doesn't charge your phone while using it unless your car has a wireless charging pad. As such, on extended road trips, plugging in your phone is the right choice to keep the battery topped up.
Other little tricks make CarPlay even smoother. In the Messages app on your iPhone, tap and hold a frequent conversation and choose Pin to keep it at the top — doing this will also pin it in the Messages app for CarPlay. And don't forget about the Shortcuts app, where you can build CarPlay automations.